A prime metropolis educator has come beneath scrutiny after a former worker accused her of ordering her chief of workers to select up her baby after faculty and accompany her to night conferences or occasions the worker attended.
The particular commissioner of inquiry confirmed that she is “evaluating” a grievance that Danica Rooks, vice chancellor of faculty management, had her chief of workers, Kimberly Ramones, use a DOE-issued automobile and driver to take Rooks’ baby to highschool in Manhattan and take her to Rux’s late nights.
“As , this can be a violation of each the Chancellor’s laws and the [Conflicts of Interest Board] guidelines for a subordinate to do private favors, and additionally it is a violation to make use of DOE tools to take action,” mentioned the grievance by Amanda Lurie, former government director on the Workplace of the Enrollment.
DOE VPs share city-issued vehicles and drivers when conducting enterprise within the metropolis and might use them to get residence at evening.
The DOE instantly dismissed Lurie’s cost, noting that she was fired in 2023 for alleged misconduct.
“It’s the top of irresponsibility to place a younger baby in hurt’s means primarily based solely on an allegation made by a former worker who fought in opposition to New York Metropolis Public Colleges after she was terminated for falsifying her time sheets,” the assertion mentioned. assertion calling the allegations “false.”
Lurie, who denies wrongdoing and is suing to get her job again on the Division of Training, was interviewed about Rux’s grievance by an SCI investigator.
“The town corridor claims that I’m a disgruntled worker. This can be a diversionary tactic to attempt to discredit me as a supply. The data was reported to me and I did precisely what all of us, as mandated reporters, are required to do: I reported it.
She added: “It’s reprehensible that they’re attempting to cowl this up through the use of a toddler as a entrance for his or her mom. I’m by no means placing the kid in peril by submitting a authorized grievance. I stand by that.”
Lurie despatched the same grievance about Rooks to DOE Ethics Officer Samantha Bilecki, with copies to Colleges Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, First Vice Chancellor Daniel Weisberg and Normal Counsel Liz Vladek.
The Vitality Division insists that none of those officers obtained Lurie’s letter, claiming that “the e-mail addresses . . . had been misspelled.”
The Publish, additionally the recipient of Lurie’s grievance, discovered all the e-mail addresses appropriate.
“I discover it totally ridiculous and outrageous that somebody with a family revenue of over 525k can’t pay for a babysitter,” Lurie’s grievance to Bileski mentioned.
Danica Rooks wage is $302,525. Her husband, Sean Rooks, who additionally works for the DOE beneath a secret deal to advertise his wifemaking $222,613.
Rux and the Ramones didn’t reply to requests for remark.
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